Ossiam, an affiliate of Natixis Global Asset Management (NGAM), has today announced the signing of a cooperation agreement with China Securities Index Company, Ltd. (“CSI”), the largest Chinese index provider, based in Shanghai. Ossiam will provide expertise in minimum variance index construction to CSI, which is developing a minimum variance index based on CSI’s own CSI 300 benchmark.
CSI 300 aims to reflect the price fluctuation and performance of the China A shares market. It is widely used as a performance benchmark and a basis for indexing and derivative products. The first index future contract in mainland China is based on CSI 300.
CSI has selected Ossiam as the proven alternative-weighted index asset management expert to provide guidance and research in the design of the new CSI minimum variance index.
The Ossiam research team has extensive experience in the design and management of rule-based, transparent minimum variance portfolios based on various equity investment universes, including those in Europe, the US, global and emerging markets. It has also proven its capability of providing superior research content and analysis of its alternative-weighted smart beta processes to investors. Ossiam’s strategies are consistent in volatility reduction and their ability to outperform peers, thanks to predictable and transparent processes.
Ossiam manages more than USD 1.29 billion in minimum variance strategies in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and segregated mandates.
Ma Zhigang, chief executive officer of CSI, said: “CSI calculates nearly 2000 end of day and real time indices covering equity, fixed income, commodities and other alternative assets in mainland China, Great China and other global markets. The cooperation with Ossiam helps to provide more valuable solutions to market participants.”
Bruno Poulin, chief executive of Ossiam, welcomed the announcement, saying: “We are delighted to work with CSI on this exciting project. As the first asset manager in the world to launch minimum variance ETFs in 2011, we have a track record that strongly backs our approach. We believe rigour, consistency and transparency of our own minimum variance process were the reasons why CSI selected Ossiam as a partner to assist in the construction of their minimum variance index. This cooperation also shows our ability to innovate and partner on the global stage, sharing our strengths and capabilities through cooperation with a leading index provider in Asia.”
Ossiam is a specialist asset management company that develops and manages investment funds, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs), based on systematic investment processes. Ossiam funds use alternatively weighted indexes – also known as alternative beta or smart beta – applied to multiple financial asset classes. Our ETFs have been listed on major European stock exchanges, including Deutsche Boerse, Borsa Italiana, London Stock Exchange.